Gold Eagle Mines
1937 to 1941
Produced 40,204 oz. gold; 19,157 oz. silver
Produced 40,204 oz. gold; 19,157 oz. silver
Source: The Northern Miner, 1939
Gold Eagle Takes Flight
Located on McKenzie Island, Gold Eagle Mines was the fourth mine in the Red Lake mining camp to start producing. Gold Eagle Mines Ltd. incorporated in February 1934 to take control of 24 mining claims from the Gold Eagle Syndicate. The Gold Eagle Syndicate was formed in 1933 bringing together the claims of ten individual prospectors. Red Lake mining personalities George Campbell and Hans Pokolm were among the prospectors brought together by the syndicate.
Exploration and development on the claims began in 1933. Under the direction of J.B. St. Paul and John Oliver, the Gold Eagle Syndicate performed surface exploration. St. Paul and Oliver put Alex Gillies in charge of exploration and in the spring of 1934, Gillies discovered the main Gold Eagle vein. Gold Eagle Mines began sinking their 157.5-metre (516.7-foot) shaft in 1934. The shaft was finished in 1935 and included four levels. Gold Eagle Mines constructed their mill in 1937, and the mine went into production shortly after its completion.
The Producing Years: 1937-1941
Gold Eagle Mines went into production on October 12, 1937. In 1938-1939 the mine developed an incline winze that branched off the main shaft at 150 metres (492 feet). The winze allowed the mine to reach a depth of 300 metres (984 feet). The mine was fated to only produce for a few short years; by 1941 the mine had exhausted the ore. Gold Eagle Mines was in production from 1937 until 1941 and produced 40,204 ounces of gold and 19,157 ounces of silver. Gold Eagles Mines sold the buildings and equipment to other mining companies in the area.
McKenzie Island
With two mines calling McKenzie Island home, the small island was once a booming hub in the Red Lake area. Gold Eagle Mines and McKenzie Red Lake Gold Mines looked after the two settlements that arose on the island. Like a world within itself, McKenzie Island was independent and self-supporting. During the height of its mining industry, McKenzie Island had among other things a post office, hotel, school, hospital, sports facilities, stores and a movie theatre. Unfortunately, after McKenzie Red Lake Gold Mines closed in 1966, the community and businesses on McKenzie Island slowly began to relocate. While no longer a booming community hub, McKenzie Island is still home to a small community.
Post-Production
Between 1941 and 2003, the mine site only saw periodic exploration. Gold Eagle Mines performed limited surface diamond drilling in 1946 and completed a small diamond drilling program consisting of 15 holes (2,912 metres - 9,553 feet) in 1958. In 1959, Gold Eagle Mines changed their name to Goldray Mines Limited. Goldray Mines completed 1,562 metres (5,124 feet) of diamond drilling on the mine site between 1960 and 1963. Exall Resources purchased the mine site in 1983 and performed testing.
Exploration at the former mine intensified in the 2000’s when Exall Resources partnered with Southern Star Resources. In 2002, the two companies launched an exploration program that found the Western Discovery Zone (2003) and the Bruce Chanel Deposit (2004/2005). The Bruce Chanel Deposit was thought to be part of the same deposit that Cochenour-Willans Gold Mines mined from 1939-1971. Southern Star Resources and Exall Resources merged in 2006 to form a new Gold Eagle Mines Ltd. Goldcorp Inc. bought Gold Eagle Mines in 2008.
Located on McKenzie Island, Gold Eagle Mines was the fourth mine in the Red Lake mining camp to start producing. Gold Eagle Mines Ltd. incorporated in February 1934 to take control of 24 mining claims from the Gold Eagle Syndicate. The Gold Eagle Syndicate was formed in 1933 bringing together the claims of ten individual prospectors. Red Lake mining personalities George Campbell and Hans Pokolm were among the prospectors brought together by the syndicate.
Exploration and development on the claims began in 1933. Under the direction of J.B. St. Paul and John Oliver, the Gold Eagle Syndicate performed surface exploration. St. Paul and Oliver put Alex Gillies in charge of exploration and in the spring of 1934, Gillies discovered the main Gold Eagle vein. Gold Eagle Mines began sinking their 157.5-metre (516.7-foot) shaft in 1934. The shaft was finished in 1935 and included four levels. Gold Eagle Mines constructed their mill in 1937, and the mine went into production shortly after its completion.
The Producing Years: 1937-1941
Gold Eagle Mines went into production on October 12, 1937. In 1938-1939 the mine developed an incline winze that branched off the main shaft at 150 metres (492 feet). The winze allowed the mine to reach a depth of 300 metres (984 feet). The mine was fated to only produce for a few short years; by 1941 the mine had exhausted the ore. Gold Eagle Mines was in production from 1937 until 1941 and produced 40,204 ounces of gold and 19,157 ounces of silver. Gold Eagles Mines sold the buildings and equipment to other mining companies in the area.
McKenzie Island
With two mines calling McKenzie Island home, the small island was once a booming hub in the Red Lake area. Gold Eagle Mines and McKenzie Red Lake Gold Mines looked after the two settlements that arose on the island. Like a world within itself, McKenzie Island was independent and self-supporting. During the height of its mining industry, McKenzie Island had among other things a post office, hotel, school, hospital, sports facilities, stores and a movie theatre. Unfortunately, after McKenzie Red Lake Gold Mines closed in 1966, the community and businesses on McKenzie Island slowly began to relocate. While no longer a booming community hub, McKenzie Island is still home to a small community.
Post-Production
Between 1941 and 2003, the mine site only saw periodic exploration. Gold Eagle Mines performed limited surface diamond drilling in 1946 and completed a small diamond drilling program consisting of 15 holes (2,912 metres - 9,553 feet) in 1958. In 1959, Gold Eagle Mines changed their name to Goldray Mines Limited. Goldray Mines completed 1,562 metres (5,124 feet) of diamond drilling on the mine site between 1960 and 1963. Exall Resources purchased the mine site in 1983 and performed testing.
Exploration at the former mine intensified in the 2000’s when Exall Resources partnered with Southern Star Resources. In 2002, the two companies launched an exploration program that found the Western Discovery Zone (2003) and the Bruce Chanel Deposit (2004/2005). The Bruce Chanel Deposit was thought to be part of the same deposit that Cochenour-Willans Gold Mines mined from 1939-1971. Southern Star Resources and Exall Resources merged in 2006 to form a new Gold Eagle Mines Ltd. Goldcorp Inc. bought Gold Eagle Mines in 2008.